Spinal injury

  • Medal-winning paralysed cyclist aims to raise £1 million for spinal stimulation research

    Medal-winning paralysed cyclist aims to raise £1 million for spinal stimulation research

    A paraplegic cyclist has utilised the power of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to pedal his way to second place at the annual Cybathlon. Now, he’s embarking on another journey to raise £1 million to fund research on spinal stimulation; a treatment method which aims to improve the recovery and function of people with paralysis.

    Following a trampolining accident in 2011 at the age of 16, Johnny Beer (AKA BionicBeer), was paralysed from the chest down.

    Almost ten years later, the 25-year-old has snatched the silver medal at the Cybathlon 2020 FES Bike Race. BionicBeer powered his bike using Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), a method which contracts paralysed muscles using small electrical charges.

    Electrodes are placed on the skin through which an electrical current is passed. This effectively replaces the nervous system stimulus that is lost when someone is paralysed.